Okay, so how DO you get the damn snow off the roof?

[MikeHalloran]

I am of course in sunny South Florida, but my sister lives in the ancestral small tract house in upstate NY. The house has a typical sloped shingled roof, now covered with still increasing amounts of snow, and she asked how to get it off. Actually, she just asked for ways to get some salt up there.

So I proposed:
Just throw coarse rock salt on the roof.
Throw tissue bags of table salt.

I also proposed:
Throw a rope over the top and saw through the snow.
Buy one of those little plow on a pole things and pull the snow down.
Both of those would likely remove granules from the shingles, so I didn't recommend them.

Suggestions? Abuse? Anyone?


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[TheTick]

I tried various means of salting the roof. No worky.

 

[vpl]

Mike

I'd recommend your sister talk to someone about proper insulation and ventilation inside the attic -- ice dams are best prevented (as both VE1BLL and TheBlacksmith said).

Several years ago I had a company come in and add additional ventilation vents and then properly insulate the attic. Stopped the ice dams from forming and keeps the house warmer at the same time. Not that expensive.

Until I read this thread, I never even considered trying to take the snow off the roof. And since the recent snowfall was only the 3rd worst that has hit Chicago, and it didn't collapse during either of the previous two, I don't think I'll lose any sleep over it.

Patricia Lougheed

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[hokie66]

Watch out above!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...per-bowl-ice-injuries.ap/index.html?eref=sihp

 

[msquared48]

Personally, to remove the snow, I would hire Union Yetis.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[zdas04]

I was thinking that the answer to the original question was "JUNE", but that's just me.

David

 

[msquared48]

She's not union.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[KENAT]

You're thinking of her sister, Julie.

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[msquared48]

My name's not Julie.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask